A web place for epistles, sermons, homilies, and other spiritual and pastoral reflections of Fr John Brian Paprock, including Sunday sermons from Holy Transfiguration Chapel in Madison Wisconsin and links to articles published on-line. All images are from the archives of Fr John Brian. Most of them are photographs taken by him. Permission to use any of the content of this blog needs to be requested - frjohnbrian@gmail.com

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Listen to a small mission sermon on the holiest day of the year that takes on the wonders of God's love and mercy.

Fr John Brian speaks about the great Feast of the Resurrection with contemporary flavor on eternal truths. We both live and remember the greatest event in history.

Fr John Brian reveals how God continues to give us the choice - the decision is ours to make. Now that death and suffering are defeated, what do you choose?

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Easter - Holy Pascha, April 24, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Friday, April 22, 2011

The convergence of Earth Day and Good Friday the day of the crucifixion, death and entombment of Jesus Christ, is the topic of a sermon that gets to the heart of matter - from the womb to the tomb, from the Garden of Eden to the Kingdom to Come - this is a time of year that we can gain spiritual maturity and help with our spiritual development.

As we approach Easter, the great Feast of the Resurrection, the greatest event in history, we walk through the suffering and death of Jesus and attend the funeral and drink of the bitter cup of Christ's last taste of this world before death.

Fr John Brian reveals how this leads us to new spiritual heights of deep spiritual understanding, but, if we are spiritualluy young, Christ takes us by the hand and walks with us step by step through the most profound happening not of this world.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Good Friday, April 22, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Monday, April 18, 2011

The End of the Journey?
Journey of Lent 7 or The Jounrey of Holy Week...

As we approach the Holy Week before the greatest event in history, we fast for this week too, remembering where Christ has been in our journey and what is to happen.

First, Fr John Brian reflects on how much of this story is not what it seems - how much it is not the way of this world.

Did we notice the journey of Lent has not ended? Even as Jesus Christ arrives in Jerusalem, the journey has only begun! So this is could be called the seventh sermon in
the Lenten Journey of 2011 or the first sermon of Holy Week 2011.

This week, Fr John Brian reveals how everything we think should happen for our benefit only happens the way God intends, showing us that God's way is not of this world.

The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross. This week we think we have arrived only to see the hard part of the journey is before us. Nevertheless, we rightly and truthfully join the chorus, "Hosanna is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Monday, April 11, 2011

As we approach the last week of the fast, this is the sixth sermon in the Lenten Journey of 2011. The next week is Holy Week.

This week, Fr John Brian reveals how we have all been blind, but do not know it until we can see.

The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross. This week we lose sight of our destination in the details of life. We judge everyone's suffering before we notice that we too are suffering. We need to be healed of our blindness, but first we must ask alms of all who pass by.

"Who is He, Lord, that I might worship Him?"

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, April 10, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission
Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

This is the fifth sermon in the Lenten Journey of 2011. This week, Fr
John Brian gives us another homiletic sermon on 1 Peter Chapter 3.

The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross. This week we may be entertaining some doubts about the journey to the top of the hill - this is when our spirtual training enables us to persevere and climb further in spiritual development this year than we have before.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, April 3, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.